Tabular calculator.



A. W. HOFFMAN.

TABULAR CALCULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, x914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

S T N E C D N A S R A L L U Q L. r, V 6 7 8 u H mm P29 /u //V VE N TOR WITNESSES .MMJ

A. W. HOFFMAN.

TABULAR CALCULATGR.

APPLICATION FILED :uLv 8.1914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES AW P 6%? m n-spam. M.

Application filed Iniy 8, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, ALFRED -W. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, and. a resident of the city of New Y ,rlr, borough of the Bronx, in the county of .l one: and State of New York, have in a new and Improved Tabular Calculator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principai objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide an apparatus arranged to readily and quickl -furnish mathematical results; to provide tabulating units arranged to provide mathematical results having grouped relation; to provide for amplifying the information relative to any particular unit of the system or element of the apparatus therefor; to provide means for grouping the tabulating members and the record thereon; and to provide means for arranging the tabulating units or members of each group in registered relation to other groups.

Dmwin;.'a.-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner fragment of an apparatus constructed and arranged to receive tabulating members in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, showing a fragment of a holding case and tab racks mounted therein, said tab racks and case being constructed in accordante with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective, showing a modified form of a tab and filler therefor; Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in. perspec tive a further modified form of tab and filler. Fig. 5 is a side view of a tabulating apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with a modified form; Fig. 6 is a, perspective view showing a fragment of the same.

Description.1n the drawings 1 have shown an apparatus and tabs therefor constructed and arranged for employment in a system adapted for use where the results of mensuration of yardage and price may be quickly and readily ascertained. It will be understood that the system is equally applicable toiother systems of mensuration than that herein described. Though the systems of mensuration herein referred to are thoseinvolving multiplication, it will be. understood that the invention has within its, scope systems of mensuration wherein bi-dmisiom addition, or subtraction are em- Spccificetion of Le ters Pats-.12

ported by the heads Patented May 11, 5915. semi nu. 849,702.

ployed. In each of the systems, two factors are known; to wit, quantity and a power u the quantity to be increased or ;i. Also, the quantity referred to .1. expressed as a whole accompanied f: ctional div ions thereof;

The system embodied in the present inwntion in a case or box 9. The box 9 is provided with c ver 10. 3aid cover is cut away to form an opening ll, through which may be seen the tops of racks 12. Surrounding the opening 11, the margins 13 and 14 have scales or information printed thereon. Thus, on the margin 13 the words Yards and eighths indicate that the table adjacent the words has relation to yards and eighths of yards. The words f Dollars and cents on the margin 14 indicate that the adjacent table is to be read dollars and fractions of dollars.

The various racks 1.2- are preferably trapezodial tubes, the shape being provided to incline backward the tabbed holders 15. The holders 15, as shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawings, have overturned edges 16 spaced from the body of the holders to form lengthwise grooves 29, wherein fillers or cards may be placed.

The racks 12 are suitably perforated or pierced to hOldglIl sliding and guided relation the holders 15. To hold the various racks, rails 17 are mounted on the sides of the racks 12 are nested or packed within the box 9 in a manner to form mutual supports each for the other. The perforations with which the racks 12 are provided are stag gored, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to permit the tab heads,18 with which each holder is provided, to be viewed easily, while economizing as much as possible the space occupied by the aggregated holders 15 within the box 9. ,In their recumbent or depressed position, the holders 15 are sup- 18, which recline on the top of the severalracks overhanging the ends of the perforations or slots with which said racks are provided. The heads 18 are used, in service, for raising the holders 15, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In the raised position, the holders naturally incline backward, and, if unrestrained, place shoulders 1.9 formed at the lower ends the edges 16.,

over the bottoms of the racks The holder-s15 are h -d in the upri posiiion in this way until 1' V for- .s'nrcl To remove said shoi'ilders from oncugemcnt with the bottoms of said rocks. Wl'ien wing ii: holders 15 to their outer- V v restrained or ye ,4: l. by hooked ends Willi union such of the holders 15 1s urovidcd. Theseends eng nge the under sides nose-cl that on of the various rocks, and arrest the holders in the fully-extcndecl posit-ion. Inthis position the operator presses gently backward the holders 1.5, and thereby causes the shoulders 19 05 the edgy-cs 16 to engage the bottoms of the rocks 12 in the manner shown inLthe drawings.

Each of the holders 15 supplied with fillcr or cord 21. Each filler 21, as shown best in Fig. l of the drawings, has i1nprinted .thereon, adjacent oneof its elongated margins, 1L table indicating in sr ll order a. characteristic or key numben such as 5, as shown by the raised holder in said Fig. 1 of the drawings. Succeeding the key number in the are the fraci- ;ns to be added to the key ninnber, mni which. on the opposite margin of one r, the results of the mensuration are These results will constantly vary in ncc-ordanoe with the relation to which the .rlular bib and filler used, bears to the on the x ins 13 and 1 The key char referred to imprinted on a. sh of lhe Lab heads 1.8 and each key number is common or universal to all of the holders of a certain series thus designated. In the drawii'ags, these key numbers are shown as reluied so a. corresponding l'zey number marked on the margin 1 In the examples emphasized in the drawings, and as above stated, the key number is 5, and it- Will be the margin on the block or space designated by the numeral 22, the. key number is 5. and that in line there- Ki l! with, exf eniling to the limit of the figure, aim to it right thereoi', each of. the sub is so marked. Tin it will be (Oil that ouch or the h( oers hm i-hc marl: 5 oi tho upper end thereof :U

in line with the blockQQ, will ha e n filler n at the upper end tliereof the noun and serially disposed below the Nhile the example illustrated in the drawings islirnited to 3, it will be understood that these columns may be extended to suit the currontconditions of the business to i which the system is applied.

in and: filler bhe lower number is used as a multiplier for :Lho key number and for each of the fractions placed on swirl filler. 1n 'i-ize exmuple shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it- Will be seen that the key number of the holder 15, which is shown in itsraised position, is 5." The column number is .08. The first. example. on the filler 2-1 is that of 5, ihe key number, multiplied b .08, giving the result adjacent the rightlnind edge of the filler Al). The succeeding number under the key number 5 is 1/8. Opposite this will be found .41,

which is the multiplication of 5-1/8 by .08,

and so on down the two columns, on the one side the numbers being gradually increased by =1 constant; power, and the numbers in lhe opposite column being the resultof the multiplication of the numbers in the first column by the. lower number on the tab heed of the holder 15.

In Fig. of the drawings, a modified form of the filler is shown, the modification Ling in substituting for the usual card a folder, such as 23. The folder is preferably made of thin paper, the object being to increase she surface upon which information or data may be inscribed. Adjacent the lower end of the holders 15, a, small bench 24 forms a stop or support fort-he filler.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 the tab head 25 is set back and connect-ed with the body of the holder 15 by an intermediate bench portion 26. The object of the conslruction is to permit the employment of a removable index card 27, which is held on the tab bond 25 by means of the overturned edges 28, arranged substantially shown. When employing tab holders such as shown in Fig. 4. of the drawings, the key number and column number above referred to, may be. inscribed on curdssuch as 27. This arrnngement provides for altering at any time thesystem for which the holders and recon trade are provided.

(9psmfiiom-- Vhen. I psrstus c' uipped as shown the drawings, and above described, she operation is as follows: If the transaction on a sole of 5-5/8 yards of materiel the priceof which is eight cents per yard, the operator follows down the column marked .08 untilhe comes to the cab head ha 'ing the key number 5. He now lifts the tabbed holder until the shoulders 19 engage and rest on the lower wall 01f the rack 12 in which itis mounted.- By referring to the column at the left on llosfiller 21, he sees that opposite the 5/8 is she price .45. which is the result he has ao 21 looking for, or the price of 5-5/8 yards condensed of material at eight cents per yard. Having ascertained the result, by pressing the tab head 18 slightly forward, the holder 15 is moved to alinement with the slot in the ack, and drops to the normal position shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As indicated, the number of uses, and thescope of the apparatus may be widely varied, it being possible by the employment of this apparatus to provide any number of mathematical results, and a rapid and simple index thereto. Also, by means of the coordinate columns, it is possible to employ the apparatus for information of various kinds, said information being contained in form.

In the modified orm of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the inclined arrangement of the face of the box and of the holders 15 therein enables the various tabs 25 to be constantly in view."

Claims:

1. An apparatus as characterized, cornprising a plurality of racks, each having a perforated upper and .lower wall; and a plurality of elongated tabbed holders, each having a'shoulderat the lower end thereof to rest upon the lower wall of said racks to support said holders in raised position, and a tab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof.

2. An apparatus as characterized, comprising a plurality of racks, each having a perforated upper and lower wall; a pinral" of elongated tabbed holders, each having a shoulder at the lower end thereof to "est upon the lower wall of said racks to upport said holders in raised position, and a tab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof;' and means mounted on said holders for preventing lifting the same out of said racks.

3. An apparatus as characterized, comprising a plurality of racks, each having a perforated upper and lower wall; a plurality of elongated tabbed holders, each having a shoulder atthe' lower end thereof to rest upon the lower wall of said racks to support said holders in raised position, and a tab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof; and hooked ends, one

' formed on each of'said holders for engaging I the under side of said racks when said holders are lifted to exposed position.

l. An apparatus as characterized, com prising a plurality of racks, each having a perforated upper and lower wall rality of elongated tahljied holiil each ing a shoulder the lower end thereof to rest upon the hauler wall of racks to support said holders in raised position, and

a tab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof; and a pin: aiity of flanges, oppositely disposed and fixedly connected with each of said holders to form channels for holding a filler.

5. An apparatus as characterized, comprising a plurality of acka each having a perforated upper and lower wall; a plu rality of elongated tabbed holders, each hav ing a shoulder at the lower end thereof to rest upon the lower wall of said racks to support said holders in raised position, and a tab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof; a plurality of flanges oppos'itely disposed and fixedly connected with each of said holders to form channels for holding a filler; and a bracket bench mounted on said holder within said channels to form a rest for said tiller,

6. An apparatus as characterized, comprising a plurality of racks, each having a perforated upper and lower wall; a plurality of elongated tabbed holders, each having a shoulder at the lower end thereof to rest upon the lower wall of said racks to support said holders in raised position, and atab head resting on the upper wall of said racks to support said holders in the lower position thereof; plurality of flanges, op positely disposed and fixedly connected with each of said hoiders to form channels for holding a filler; a removable filler adapted for insertion within said channels; a bracket bench mounted on said holders within said channels to form a rest for said filler, and means pro'vidui on said tabbed heads for indexing the same.

In testinuniy whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED W. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses i E. T. /VINANs, Faro. G, llvaurnns, 

